FEATURE Industry 5.0
Industry 5.0: how far off are we? Robert Miles, Manager for R&D Incentives at Ayming UK & Ireland, explains why Industry 5.0 is not far behind Big data
Data continues to play a huge part in innovation, with manufacturers continuing to invest in building smart factories with constant fl ow of information about speed, quality and effi ciency.
[Image: Possessed Photography for Unsplash]
T
he last 50 years have seen major progress in the manufacturing sector as automation and new technologies have provided
growth. Yet, progress has really started to accelerate more recently, with convergence of automation, new technologies and Big Data analysis seen across the manufacturing supply chains and at the heart of smart factories. Manufacturers recognise that to remain competitive they must invest in new equipment, processes and services to generate real returns on investment. Companies must be capable of responding quickly to changing demand, with new product designs enabled by fl exible manufacturing processes. This is perhaps why technology is moving so quickly; it was merely a few years ago that Industry 4.0 – the so-called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” – was hailed as the golden standard. Now, Industry 5.0 is the goal. Industry 4.0 saw a huge drive to automate processes to put machines at the heart of manufacturing. While this led to increase in output, it also highlighted a lack of fl exibility in operations, i.e., without the ability to think critically and analyse data, the need for even a slight variation created a major problem. This conclusion was perhaps best articulated by Elon Musk following production delays on the Model 3 Tesla car who admitted that excessive automation at the factory had been a mistake and that “humans are underrated”. The same realisation has been felt across manufacturing, and now a drive has
12 September 2021 | Automation
The close cooperation between robot and human will be one of the key tenets in Industry 5.0
started towards interactive cooperation between humans and robots. Industry 5.0 will be tailored to product personalisation, with humans collaborating with robots. While robots will still assist with the heavy lifting, human collaboration provides a level of real-time analysis which means that systems can be adjusted in real time and potential problems can be anticipated ahead of time. A change is also being driven externally as customers demand more personalised products as standard, and to meet this demand manufacturers are investing in new technologies. Here are the key trends:
3D printing
2020 saw some of the most eff ective use of 3D printing to date as manufacturers used the technology to meet the demand for medical devices and PPE caused by the pandemic. Elsewhere, 3D printing looks set to become a key stage in the manufacturing process, made highly valuable due to its ability to accommodate a wide range of product designs.
It’s also critical for the industry’s drive towards personalisation because of its fl exible nature, allowing a single variation of a product, which eliminates the need for high-volume manufacture. This is particularly valuable for producing replacement products, reducing possible component obsolescence and eliminating the need for big warehouses since components can be produced with short lead times.
One weakness exposed by the pandemic is that a lot of data is held on the factory fl oor rather than being updated to the cloud, requiring a physical human presence. However, 5G will make the exchange of data quicker than before, and smart devices will send data automatically rather than having it manually processed.
New materials The drive towards sustainability plays a huge part in introducing new materials. Manufacturers are making a concerted eff ort to limit the use of substances that might be harmful to the environment, as well as improving product performance and properties. The search for sustainable materials has led manufacturers to invest in R&D and explore the practical use of new materials previously seen at research level, such as graphene.
Virtual reality VR is also proving a game changer for manufacturers, allowing them to test designs without the need for a physical prototype in the initial stages. This means that by the time you get to the fi rst prototype it’s nearly as good as the fi nished product, which hugely limits waste. With VR, manufacturers can meet the demand for personalised products – altering and creating bespoke designs will be easier than ever before.
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a radical transformation as new innovations continue to pave the way to Industry 5.0. Valuable lessons have been learned from increased automation, but now those who are able to balance new technologies with a higher level of human intervention will fi nd themselves several steps ahead.
CONTACT:
Ayming
www.ayming.co.uk
automationmagazine.co.uk
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